J&K Assembly Elections | ECI sets process in motion, orders updation of electoral rolls

Jammu, June 21: Election Commission of India (ECI) Friday set the process of J&K assembly election in motion by ordering updation of electoral rolls for the Union Territory, along with three other poll-bound states.

As per ECI’s communique to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of J&K and three other poll-bound states viz., Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, July 1, 2024 has been fixed as the qualifying date for the conduct of second Special Summary Revision (SSR) of Electoral Rolls.

Pre-SSR activities will begin from June 25, 2024 to set up or rationalise the polling stations at locations most convenient to electors in group housing societies, slums, city outgrowths and rural areas.

Detailed revision exercise will conclude on August 20, 2024 with the final publication of the electoral roll.

The ECI move came just a day after the statement of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the preparations of assembly elections in J&K had started.

Modi made this statement, while addressing the ‘Empowering Youth, Transforming J&K’ event at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on Thursday, during his first visit to the UT after assuming charge as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time.

WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAD SAID

“With full dedication and honesty, I’m working to ensure that a way out of the past generation’s miseries may be found. We are making all possible effort to remove all distances whether of the heart or of Delhi (Dil ya Dilli),” PM Modi had stressed, in his address at SKICC on Thursday.

He emphasized the need for collective efforts to ensure that the fruits of democracy reach every family and person. He said that every penny of central assistance was being spent on the welfare of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

“What can be better than the people of Jammu & Kashmir selecting their representative and tackling their problems through them. That is why preparations for the assembly elections have started. The day is not far when you will select the new government of Jammu & Kashmir with your own vote. The day will come soon when Jammu & Kashmir will shape its future as a state once again,” PM Modi said.

He wrapped up his two-day visit to J&K on Friday after leading a mega Yoga event at SKICC on the occasion of 10th International Yoga Day.

EC ENTHUSED BY OVERWHELMING PARTICIPATION OF J&K PEOPLE IN LS POLLS

As per ECI’s official statement, historic participation (by UT people) in Lok Sabha elections, 2024 prompted it (ECI) to initiate preparations for J&K Assembly elections, starting with updation of electoral rolls. It has urged all eligible citizens in J&K and three other states to register in the electoral roll.

“General election to the Legislative Assembly of UT of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is to be conducted for constituting a new house after delimitation of constituencies. Witnessing the huge participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections, the Commission has also directed for the updation of the electoral rolls in the UT of J&K (along with three other states) with July 1, 2024 as the qualifying date,” ECI statement read.

It may be recalled that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar in the last press conference had remarked, “The story of huge participation in Lok Sabha elections by people of J&K is very hopeful and inspiring, showing how eager people are to participate in democracy. It's crucial for people to stay peaceful and united, fulfilling their aspirations and deciding their future and governance. The Commission is excited and gratified to help make this happen and will soon start the Assembly election process in J&K.”

DEADLINE SET BY SUPREME COURT

Earlier in December 2023, the Supreme Court had set the deadline of September 30, 2024 for the ECI to complete the process of assembly elections in J&K.

PROCESS OF SPECIAL SUMMARY REVISION

The last Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls was conducted in all the States and UT with respect to January 1, 2024 as the qualifying date.

“After the amendment in the Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 by the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 the provision of four qualifying dates in a year is available now. Accordingly, the Commission, for the purpose to provide ample opportunity to all eligible and unenrolled citizen to get themselves enrolled in the electoral roll and thereby get the chance to vote in the upcoming elections, has decided to conduct 2nd Special Summary Revision (SSR) of Electoral Rolls with respect to July 1, 2024 in the states of Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and UT of Jammu & Kashmir,” ECI statement read.

“The Commission firmly believes that pure, inclusive and updated electoral rolls are the foundation of free, fair and credible elections. To ensure the fidelity of electoral roll, the Commission is giving special emphasis on the conduct of intensive pre-revision activities before the publication of draft electoral roll,” it added, while delineating the significance of updation of electoral rolls.

Pre-revision activities would mainly include House to House surveys by the BLOs. Booth Level Officers would make house to house visits within their area of jurisdiction to collect the information about un-enrolled eligible citizens (eligible on July 1, 2024); multiple entries, dead electors and permanently shifted electors; corrections in the ER entries.

Besides, it will include rationalization or re-arrangement of Polling Stations. The Commission has directed CEOs to conduct an extensive survey during the ongoing exercise of rationalization of polling stations to identify those urban areas where Group Housing Societies and high-rise residential buildings are located having adequate rooms, common facilitation area, community halls, schools for the purpose of setting up a polling station to cater to the resident electors, after following the due procedure.

As per ECI schedule, pre-revision activities will be completed between June 25 to July 24, 2024.

Similarly, as per schedule of ‘Revision activities’, the date for publication of Integrated draft electoral roll will be July 25, 2024. Period for filing claims and objections will be from July 25 to August 9, 2024. Special campaign dates will be fixed by the CEO on Saturdays and Sundays within claims and objection periods.

Disposal of claims and objections viz., checking of health parameters and obtaining Commission's permission for final publication and updating database and printing of supplements will be completed by August 19, 2024. Date for final publication of the electoral roll will be August 20, 2024.